Refrigerator truck



March 13, 1934. 1.. A. DE MORE 1,950,59

- REFRIGERATOR TRUCK Filed March 18. 1932 .3,S heetS- -Sheet 1 I jhvenzlw? March 13,1934. A, 55 MORE 1,950,599

REFRIGERATOR TRUCK Filed March 18. 1952 3 Sheetsr-Sheet 2 4 afeazzeldfiz an.

' a'zm-' (2x4 March 13. 1934. 1.. A. DEMORE 1,950,599

REFRIGERATOR TRUCK Filed March 18'. 1932 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ignments, to The Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 18, 1932, Serial No. 599,667 8 Claims. (01. sa -1s) This invention relates to trucks used for the transportation of frozen foods, such as ice cream or the like. v

In trucks of this type, the foods must be maintamed in a refrigerated state from the time of loading until actual delivery. Since the truck's are capable of transporting a considerable quantity of such frozen foods, consideration must be given to providing refrigeration sufficient for 10 maintaining the foods under proper temperagure conditions for relatively long periods of ime. I

Trucks of the been ungainly in appearance, and, especially in the type using common ice as a refrigerant, have been unsightly and unsanitary. Further, the manner of gaining access to the containers, pack ages, or cans is such that it is extremely diflicult to remove any desired container without disturbing the others, or taking unusual precautions in the initial loading of the truck. The containers are of consiggrable weight when filled with foods, and the convenient manner of access to the containers increases the dimculty attendant upon their removal.

The present forms of trucks are provided with bodies having side or lateral openings, for permitting access to thecontainers, and these openings are so arranged that when the door is opened to enter the lateral passage; the cold air contained in the refrigerated space drops out into the surrounding atmosphere, and an appreciable amount of refrigeration is lost thereby.

I propose, therefore, in the preferred'embodi- 35 ment of my invention, to provide a refrigerator truck of pleasing appearance, in which the storage facilities of the truck are such as to -provide easy removal of the filled containers. In connection with this feature, it is also contemplated in a truck of this character, to arrange the compartments housing the containers in such position that they are all accessible from a centrally located aisle or runway. This runway may extend either laterally or longitudinally of the truck body, and is not ,open at any point to the interior of the refrigerating chamber. The chambersv themselves are of heat insulated construction; and are accessible only from the top thereof, which prevents the cold air in the refrigerated chamber from spilling out or being lost when it is desired to'remove a container.

Furthenl preferably locate the runway at such a level with respect to the height to which the containers must be lifted in order to effect their removal from the compartment, that the type heretofore provided have maximum amount of lifting effort maybe ex-' 'erted by the attendant. This is made possible by so disposing the platform upon which the attendant'stands when removingxa container at such a height that it is possible for the attendant to bend over from the hips and to extend both the arms into the interior of the chamber whereby lifting eifort can be exerted by both the arm, shoulder and back muscles of the attendant.

Another object of the present invention is to to construct the compartment so that the cold air surrounding the containers is trapped and cannot escape except through the top or hatch of the compartments. This produces increased refrigcrating effect, since the coldest air is at the bottom of the compartments, where the greatest cooling efiect is desired. a

I preferably provide increased storage space by the unique arrangement of the compartments. The volume of available storage space 7| required for the refrigerating medium is small,

- as I preferably employ dry ice, carried in a slid:

ing bunker disposedupon suitable guide rails mounted within the compartments. The bunker is insulated against heat from the top thereof,

and the air coming into contact with the under metallic surface of the bunker is cooled, and settles to the bottom of the compartment. As I provide no opening for the compartments ex- 'cept at the tops thereof, this chilled air iscon. 05 .flned near the bottom of the compartments, "where it is desired that the greatest refrigerating effect be produced. The storage space is increased since the bunker may he slid backwardly and forwardly longitudinally of the compart-JO- ment, and the containers for the frozen foods may be piled up on each side of the; bunker, holding the bunker in position until the contain-. ers are removed. Suitable latching means may berprovided for holding the bunker in any desired 05 position within the compartment.

Dry ice is preferably used as the refrigerant, since considerably less of this medium is required, and it does not have to be disposed of,

that is, drainedoff or shove'led-off of the truck. 10o

This refrigerant is clean, and evaporates without forming moisture. However, mechanical refrigerating equipment may be usedto replace the dry ice equipment with equally satisfactory results and with no appreciable change in the de-,

sign of the truck. 33; reason of this-fact, the truck can be constructed in a manner that will make it more s'ightly in appearance, and the disposition of the compartments on either side of a central aisle or runway permits a compact and uniform exterior that greatly enhances the appearance and general air of neatness and sanitation that should be embodied in a truck of this character.

Numerous other objects and advantages will appear more fully when considerad in ,connection with the accompanying drawings, which, together with the detailed description, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 is an elevational view of a refrigerator truck embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2, and disclosing a modified form of cover for the top of the refrigerator compartments;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing a truck embodied with the modification described in connection with Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bunker carrying the refrigerant;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the bunker shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Referring now in more detail to the" drawings, I have illustrated a common type of truck, indicated generally by the reference numeral 5.

This truck 5 comprises a truck body portion 6 supported upon longitudinally extending channel members 7 and 8. The truck is provided w th a motor or engine 9, and with a cab portion 10. The longitudinal channel members '1 and 8 are supported in the usual manner upon the axles of the truck, these axles having wheels 11 disposed thereupon. These parts are all well known, and need no further detailed description.

Considering in more detail the body portion 6 of the truck, this body portion is supported upon transverse beams 12 resting upon the longitudinally extending channel members '1 and 8. The body 6 has the laterally disposed bed portion 13 resting upon the beams 12 and forming the bottom of the body portion.

Extending upwardly from the bed 13 I provide the wall14, which defines the exterior of the body portion, and which is positoned so as to form a substantially rectangular body portion. The wall 14 may be of wood, or any other suitable material which will give a smooth exterior appearance and which may be painted or enameled to provide advertising surfaces or the like.

Disposed within the wall 14 of the body portion, and extending thereabout in a substantially U-shape are the compartments, indicated generally by the reference numeral 15, provided for the storage of the frozen foods, such as ice cream or the like. Preferably, these compartments are disposed with no barrier wall within the respective compartments, which are, in the preferred embodiment, three in number, as this permits more storage space to be available. However, I provide a non-insulating wall between the two legs of the U-shaped arrangement and the laterally extending end compartment.

-Each of the compartments is provided with a hinged cover, indicated by the reference numeral 16, these covers being provided at one of their edges with the hinges 17 and being provided with a handle in order to raise or open the same, indicated at 18. In Figures 1 and 2, I have shown these covers as opening toward the front of the vehicle, but, as disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, I have shown the covers as opening toward the side of the vehicle or away from the central aisle or passageway. It is to be understood that the particular arrangement of the cover or hatch members is optional.

In Figures 1 and 2, the hinged portion of the covers is secured to the transverse members 19 extending between the exterior walls 20 and the interior walls 21 of the compartments 15. These walls 20 and 21 of the refrigerating compartments are of substantial thickness, and are composed, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, of suitable exterior board surfaces, such as wood, fiber board, or the like between which is disposed insulating material, such as cork or kapok. The upper portions of the wall are preferably beveled as at 22 to accommodate the reception of a depending insulated portion 23 carried by cover or hatch members 16, which portion extends into the compartment and serves to seal the opening thereof, to provide proper insulationagainst the escape of the cooling air.

It is to be noted that the cover members 16, together with the hinges 17, and handles 18 are adapted to be disposed in a plane below the upper surface of the exterior wall 14 of the truck, so that none of these members is, exposed to view.

This improves greatly the appearance of the,

truck.

Disposed at the outer ends of the legs of the U-shaped compartments are two storage compartments indicated by the numeral 25, which are adapted to receive the empty containers for storage purposes until the truck returns to the plant. These storage compartments are not provided with insulating walls,- such as the walls and 21, as there is no necessity for cooling or maintaining this space in a refrigerated condition. I

In Figures 3 and 4, I have disclosed a modifled form of cover member, which comprises the rectangular plate member 26, to which is secured a suitable insulating depending portion 23. This cover member is provided with the hinges 2'1 and the handle member 28, corresponding to the hinges 1'7 and handle 18 of the embodiment of. Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 4, this cover or handle member is adapted to open away from the centrally located aisle or runway, and permits convenient access to the interior of the compartment 15 by the attendant, as shown in Figure 4.

It is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to truckbodies wherein the refrigerating compartments are disposed laterally of the truck chassis, and where a central aisle or runway is provided laterally between two compartments, so that the attndant may have access to'either compartment from the rlmway. In such a modification, the two compartments disposed upon each side of the runway would be insulated from the runway, so that upon opening of doors or the like in the runway, to permit access thereto by the attendant, no cold air will spill out from the compartments.

Disposed between the two extending legs of the U'-shaped compartments shown inFigures 1 to 4, inclusive, I provide a central runway or platform 30. As shown in Figure 4, platform is supported by means of a pair of suitable angle members 31 disposed upon the inner wall 21 of the compartment 15. The platform 30 extends longitudinally of the truck 5, and terminates a short distance inwardly from the rear end thereof. This platform is disposed at such a level that the attendant, in removing the cans from the compartment 15, is able to exert a maximum lifting effort, and does not need to raise the can above the level of his chest. The full use of the back and shoulder muscles ,of the attendant is made possible by means of this elevated platform, which is of distinct advantage as it permits easy removal of the containers.

Between the platform and the bed 13 of the body 6 is a space, indicated generally by the reference numeral 33, which may be used for the storage of empty containers, or if it is desired-to electrical batteries of the truck, in the case of an electric truck or by mechanical or electrical means for trucks of the gasoline type. I also preferably provide a folding step, indicated at 35. and secured centrally at the rear end of the truck for the purpose of aiding the attendant to enter the space between the extending length of the U-shaped compartment. This step 35 is secured to the truck frame or body in any suitable manner as by the bracket members indicated at 36', and may be folded up out of the waywhen the truck is in motion. This step makes convenient access to the interior of the runway 30. Below the runway 30 I may preferably provide an auxiliary step 32, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, for the purpose of further facilitating convenient access to the interior of the refrigerating truck body.

Below the bed 13 of the truck body, and be-' tween the spaces provided by the transverse beams 12 thereof, I provide a supporting member 24, which rests upon the longitudinally extending beams 7 and 8, and between which supporting portion and the bed 13 I provide a suitable insu- I latlng material, such as cork, kapok, or the like, indicated by the numeral 29. This is for the purpose of insulating the bottom of the compartment 15 against loss of heat through the bed 13, and serves to provide a compartment which is .insulated at both the sides and the top and bottom thereof. The cans or containers for the frozen foods rest upon suitable racks- 41 disposed in the bottom of the compartments 15.

Directly above the step 35, and extending from the bed 13 to a level equal to the vertical extent of the exterior wall 14 of the truck body, is

a door 36, which is hinged, as by means of a vertically extending hinge indicated at 37, to the truck body and swings outwardly to permit access to the central runway or platform 30. The

door is provided with a suitable lock or latch mechanism indicated at 38, which is. operable only by means of a key inserted from the exterior thereof. This is for the purpose of preventing an unauthorized person from entering the refrigerating portion of the truck.

The insulating wall 21 of the compartment 15 is provided at its rearward end with a vertically disposed bracket member 39, suitably bolted thereto for the purpose of assisting the attendant to enter the centrally located platform. A second bracket member 40 is bolted to the inner surface of the door 36, preferably near its hinged edge, and servesas an additional bracket member. The outer surface of the door 36 is preferably so formed as ,to conform to the general configuration of the rear end of the truck, and thus does not break the continuity of the pleasing exterior surface desired.. The lock 38 is preferably of the snap type so that the door will be automatically latched in position when closed.

Within the compartment 15, and disposed upon the racks 41, are the containers or cans provided for the frozen foods, these containers being indicated by the reference numeral 42. They are substantially cylindrical in shape, and are provided with "a suitable parchment paper laid over the top'thereof before'the foods contained therein are frozen, for the purpose of protecting these foods. This type of container is well known in the art and needs .no-further description.

The height ,of the compartment 15 is such that a row of cans may be disposed in vertical position upon the racks 41, and the width of the compartment'isv such that two cans may be disposed therein. Above this vertically positioned double row of cans, there may be provided a plu-- rality of cans laid lengthwise or horizontally upon the vertically positioned double row. This is brought out clearly in Figures 3 and 4. If desired, the cans may be set vertically upon the vertically positioned lower row, but it is only at unusually warm periods during the summer that the refrigerator truck carries a load which would require this particular loading arrangement. Preferably, the cans are arranged as shown in Figure 3. The depth of the compartment 15, may, if desired, be varied from the proportions shown in the drawingwithoutv departing from the scopeof the invention.

The empty cans, as shown in Figures 2- and 3, are indicated by the numeral 42', and are dis. posed in the storage compartment 25. Since, in the preferred embodiment of-the invention, the compartments 15 are divided into three sections, a laterally extending section, and two leg sections extending therefrom on opposite sides of the central runway or platform 30, it is apparent that the cans may be disposed in these sections in any manner that may be desired or as may suit the particular'needs of the attendant due to the demands of his route. Not all the frozen foods are contained in cans, but they may be packaged in paper containers or otherwise.-

kage containers may be dethe compartments 15, and supported upon the angle members 44, which are'sultabLv secured to the inner surfaces of the exterior wall 20 and interior wall 21 of each of the compartments, is a dry ice bunker, indicated generally bythe reference numeral 45. This bunker is shown more. in detail in Figures 5 to 8., These bunkers, which are three in number, one for each of the three compartments shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention, are adapted to be slid along the guides 44, and may be held, by means of any suitable latch mechanism or the like, in any desired position within the respective compartment. This is for the purpose of moving the bunker to the position within the compartment where it will not interfere with the removal of the desired can or compartment, or where it is desired to absorb the greatest amount of heat. When the truck is so loaded that the containers 42 substantially fill the compartment, the bunker 45 is held therebetween.

Referring more in detail to Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, the bunker 45 comprises, in general, three sections, indicated at 46, 4'7 and 48. The section 46, which is disposed centrally of the bunker, is adapted to contain the dry ice, indicated in Figure 8 by the numeral 49.

The section 46 comprises the generally rectangular box structure formed by the member 50, and has its inner verticallyextending walls insulated by means of the insulating members 51, which may comprise fiber boards, composition or the like. Disposed upon the upper marginal edge of the insulating members 51 is a suitable gasket member 52, upon which the insulating cover 53 is adapted to seat. This insulating cover member 53 may be formed of the same mate'- rial as the insulating wall members 51. A suitable sack 54 may be provided, and containing cork or a similar insulating substance, and is disposed upon the top of the dry ice bricks 49 for the purpose of preventing absorption of heat from the top thereof.. The cover 53, asshown in Figure 5, isprovided with the centrally pivoted latch member 55, which engages under suitable latching hooks 56 formed integral with the side walls 50 of the section 46. The member 55 is adapted to be pivoted into locking engagement with the hooks 56 for securing the cover tightly in place upon the gasket 52.

Extending laterally upon each side of the box 46, are the two identical sections 47 and 48, which comprise the laterally extending fin members 5'7, which are riveted, welded, or otherwise suitably secured to the side walls 50 of the section 46. The fins 57 are adapted to have their end portions flanged, as indicated at 58, for the purpose of securing thereto a pair of laterally extending reinforcing member 59 and 60. The fins 57 are adapted to absorb heat from the surrounding atmosphere and to conduct the'heat to the box 50, where it is absorbed by the dry ice refrigerant 49, for the purpose of cooling the compartments 15. The fins, together with the box 50, are formed of a material having high thermal conducting characteristics.

The two end walls 62 and 63 of the bunker 45 are adapted to be connected at their ends .to the reenforcing members 59 and 60, and form the end walls of the refrigerating box 50. The side walls 50 of the section 46 are adapted to be welded or otherwise suitable secured to the end walls 62 and 63.

Disposed a suitable distanceabove the upper edges of the fins 57'are the insulating members 64, which extend in coplanar relation with reference to the cover member 53 of the insulated section 46. These insulating members 64 are suitably held in position by means of a plurality of brackets or angles 65 riveted to the side walls 62 and 63, and to the walls 50 of section 46. At their outer ends, the insulating members 64 are secured in position by means of the elongated angle member 66, extending upwardly above the reenforcing members 59. These serve to securely hold the insulating members 64 in position.

It is thus apparent that the bunker 45 is insulated at the top thereof, and that it is open to the surrounding atmosphere at the sides and lower portion thereof. This is for the purpose of preventing too great a heat loss when the covers of the individual compartment are opened, thus providing an efficient refrigerating bunker for absorbing heatv within the compartments 15. The side wall members 62 and 63 engage the V guides 44 for the purpose of sliding the bunker longitudinally of the compartments 15. Suitable latching means may be provided'for the purpose of securing the bunker in any desired position upon the guides 44.

In operation, the fins57, together with the side walls 62 and 63, absorb the heat from the compartments 15 and conduct this heat to the dry ice compartment 36. This heat is absorbed by the dry ice bricks 49 disposed therein, and in turn, the fins 57 and the side walls 62 and 63 become chilled due to the high conductivity of the material of which they are formed. Thus, the bunker exerts a maximum refrigerating effect within the 1 compartments 15, and, since the cold air settles to the bottom of the compartments, the bunker 45 serves to keep the compartments in the proper refrigerated condition.

It is thus apparent that I have provided a re- 1 frigerator truck embodying a number of novel features fon protecting transportation of frozen foods in a refrigerated state. One of these features is the provision of a convenient access for removal of the individual containers for the foods, while providing a truck which has a body of pleasing and sanitary appearance. The use of dry ice as a refrigerant, and the use of the sliding bunker, maintain the truck in a sanitary condition, since the refrigerant used evaporates without the crea- 1 tion of any moisture. Further, by the arrangement of the component parts of. the truck body, I am capable of providing a truck which ,is stream-lined in appearance, and in which all of the interior is hiden from view by an exterior wall been illustrated, but only in so far as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a truck of the class described, a truck body, a U-shaped compartment in' said body, a plurality of covers at the top of 'said compartment providing the only means of access thereto, an exterior wall disposed about said compartment, said wall extending above the level of said covers, and a centrally disposed platform extending longitudinally of said body, said platform being disposed above the bottom level of said compartment.

. 2. In a refrigerator truck, a U-shaped compartment adapted to receive frozen confections, said compartment. having insulated walls, a platform disposed centrally in said compartment and above the bottom level thereof, an exterior wall extending about said compartment and of greater height than said compartment, a door in said wall forming an openingto saidplatform, a plurality of covers for said compartment, refrigerating means longitudinally slidable in said compartment over said confections, storage chambers disposed at the ends of said compartment, and a 53 1,950,599 storage space between said platform and the bed of said compartment.

3. In a refrigerator truck, a U-shaped compartment adapted to receive frozen confections, said compartment having insulated walls, a platform disposed centrally in said compartment and above the bottom level thereof, an exterior wall extending about said compartment and of greater height than said compartment, a door in said wall forming an opening to said platform, a plurality of covers for said compartment, storage chambers disposed at the ends of said compartment, refrigerating means disposed within said compartment comprising a receptacle insulated except at its bottom and containing a refrigerating medium, conducting fins leading from said receptacle, and a storage space between said platform and the bed of said compartment;

4. In a refrigerator truck, a compartment adapted to receive containers for frozen confections, a platform disposed centrally of said compartment and above the bottom level thereof, and refrigerating means adapted to be disposed below said platform for maintaining said compartment at a desired temperature.

5. In a truck of the class described, a dry ice bunker comprising a receptacle containing dry ice, said receptacle being insulated at all points except its bottom surface, a plurality of lateral fins extending from opposite side walls of said receptacle, and insulating members secured to said receptacle and said fins and disposed in a plane the top thereof.

6. In a truck of the class described, a refrigerabove said fins forming an insulating barrier over ating compartment having insulated side and bottom walls adapted to receive containers for frozen confections, an insulated hatch at the top of said compartment providing for access to said containers, guide rails mounted within said compartment on said side walls and extending longitudinally thereof, and a refrigerating bunker having an insulated cover accessible from said hatch and disposed for sliding movement on said guide rails over said containers.

7. In a truck of the class described, a refrigerating compartment having insulated side and bottom walls, an insulated hatch for said compartment, guide rails mounted within said compartment and extending longitudinally thereof, and a refrigerating bunker disposed for sliding movement on said guide rails, said bunker comprising a receptacle containing a refrigerating medium, said receptacle having insulating barriers on the top and side walls thereof and having a plurality of laterally extending fins provided with an insulating barrier at the top thereof.

8. A bunker for use in a refrigerator truck comprising a compartment adapted to contain a refrigerating medium, said compartment having all of its vertical side walls insulated, an insulated cover for said compartment, a plurality of oppositely extending fins on two sides of said compartment secured to theside walls thereof and formed of heat conducting material, and insulating members extending over said fins and secured to said compartment and to said fins forming an insulating barrier thereover.

LEONEL A. DE 

